How to turn part of a photo to black and white in Photoshop

Follow this tutorial to find out how to turn just part of a photo to black and white to achieve a great effect. This works really well with an image where part of the photo is really brightly coloured but can also be used with subtle colours to create an interesting effect.

I have used a photo of a Peacock that I found on Wikimedia by Wilfredor as the basis of this tutorial.

Step 1.
Start by opening the photo that you want to change in Photoshop.

Step 3.
With the top layer selected desaturate the image. To do this go to Image > Adjustments > Desaturate. Or use the keys Shift Apple U / Shift Ctrl U.

Desaturate the top layer

Step 4.
Add a layer mask to the desaturated image. With the top layer selected go to Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal All or use the layer mask icon at the bottom of the layers palette.

Add a layer mask

Step 5.
With the new layer mask selected in the layers palette, select the brush tool and black in the colours palette.

Select Brush

Step 6.
Right click the canvas to show the brush menu and choose a appropriate brush size. If you want a crisp edge between the section that will be coloured and the section that will be black and white choose 100% hardness.

Select brush size

Step 7.
Start to use the brush on the areas that you want to be in colour. Change the size of the brush as you need to. In the layers palette you will notice the layer mask showing the areas that you are uncovering. (Black is the part of the photo that is hidden and white the area which is showing).

Step 8.
If you make a mistake, change the colour in the colour palette to white by pressing the arrow just above the swatches. Go back over the area to reveal the section of picture again.

Showing too much backgroundChange ColourGo back over same area

Step 9.
Change the colour back to black and continue to work on the layer mask until you have hidden all the areas of black and white that you want.

Continue Process

Step 10.
Below is my finished photo.

Finished Image

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.
Please leave a comment or some feedback if you try out this process, it would be also be great to see some finished photos 🙂